Weighing scales

ABSTRACT

A computing and printing scale system includes a pulse generator and an optical scale incorporating a mechanism which reads out the balance position of the platter and stores the weight information of selective transmission of pulses directly to a series of pulse counters each representing one column of weight information. Thereafter, the value of the weighed load at a preset unit price is computed by selective transmission of pulses to a series of valve counters in accordance with partial product multiplication of the digits of weight and unit price, controlled in part by the weight counters. Finally, the weight and value information stored in the counters in transmitted to a printerregister which prints the information on a label.

United States Patent [72] lnventors Kenneth C. Allen;

Edwin E. Boshinski. Dayton. Ohio [2]] Appl. No. 422.730 [22] Filed Dec. 31. 1964 [45] Patented Jan. 19, 1971 [73] Assignee The Hobart Manufacturing Company Troy, Ohio a corporation of Ohio [54] WEIGHING SCALES 18 Claims. 15 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl ..235/151.33. 177/3 [51] Int. Cl G01g 23/38; G06f 15/20 [50] Field oiSearch BS/151.33, 58. 58PS. 6] .61PS: 177/3. (Allen Digest) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,163,247 /1964 Bell etal 235/151.33X

2,963,222 12/1960 Allen... 235/151 3,067,938 12/1962 Springer 235/156 REGISTER PR'NTER COMPUTER Primary Examiner-Malcolm A. Morrison- Assistant ExaminerEdwarcl J. Wise Attorney-Marechal, Biebel, French & Bugg ABSTRACT: A computing and printing scale system includes a pulse generator and an optical scale incorporating a mechanism which reads out the balance position of the platter and stores the weight information by selective transmissionof pulses directly to a series of pulse counters each representing one column of weight information. Thereafter, the value of the weighed load at a preset unit price is computed by selective transmission of pulses to a series of valve counters in accordance with partial product multiplication of the digits of weight and unit price, controlled in part by the weight counters. Finally, the weight and value information stored in the counters in transmitted to a printer-register which prints the information on a label.

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REGISTER MM ATTORN EYS um N E s v .0 m C an N NW ED KE Y B o A I 7% mm E Pl} m 5 I E 8 PM U P L w E 0 V TUB 91 w L un PATENTEBJANIQISH r 3557353 sum 03 0F 13 FIG-P5 T max 9 ELEQ R CAL s fiQli I 7 -f f 4 FF FF sen T slucoN PLUS MINUS W -v- CONTROLLED GATE NORGATE FLIPPFLOP RECTIFIER SA TT T MINUS PLUS sENsE l r V. ,1 NAND GATE NOR GATE AMPLIFIER ME TRIGGER i i i i {P10 POWER DIODE GATE INVERTER TURN m I 1 v DIODE CABLE INVENTORS KENNETH c. ALLEN a Y EDWIN IEY.BOSHINSKI ATTORNEYS FIG- 6, ow-1',

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INVENTORS KENNETH QALLEN 8: BY EDWIN E. BOSHINSKI ATTOR N EYS .IPATEYNTEDJAYNNISVIBHI' 3.557.353

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KENNETH C. ALLEN 8: BY EDWIN E. BOSHINSKI PA'IENIEm-rmr E w 3557353 sum 110F 13 L-55 v 'L j INVENTORS L-55 KENNETH G. ALLEN 8 ATTORNEYS v BY EDWIN'E.BOSHINSKI Pmmmmmgn 3551.353 I saw '120F 13 FIG-14 saga f 25 INVENTORS KENNETH c. ALLEN a BY Eowm E. BOSHINSKI ATTORNEYS WEIGIIING SCALES This invention relates both to computers and to computing scale systems which include a scale and a computer for weighing and automatically computing and recording the price of each of successively weighed loads or articles.

A system of the general type to which the invention relates is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3.045229, to Allen wherein the scale is power operated and includes a servomechanism driving a plurality of readout switches, and the computer includes a series of relays which first store the weight factor digits and then cooperate with unit price selector switches to effect computation of the value of the weighed load. Some of the components of that system, which may be incorporated in the system ofthe present invention, are shown in more detail in earlier patents noted in U.S. Pat. No. 3,045,229 and specifically referred to hereinafter.

The preferred embodiment of the present invention which is described in detail hereinafter is characterized by a solid state computing system which includes a pulse generator, a program counter and a plurality of pulse counters, and all operations of read out, storage and computing are effected by appropriate control of the transmission of pulses throughout the system. Thus the scale is read out by photoelectric transducers, and the weight digits are temporarily stored in counters which receive the proper number of pulses through gates controlled by the photoelectric transducers in accordance with the balance position of the scale. These weight storage counters then cooperate with other counters and price selector switches to operate additional gates which control the transmission of pulses to value storage counters. Finally, the weight and value storage counters transmit their stored information to a printer which prints and issues a ticket or label bearing thereon the unit pr ce, weight and value of the related load.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a system of the general characteristics outlined above which can be produced at less cost than previously available systems for the same purpose and which will have additional advantage of increased speed of operation and reduced maintenance and service requirements.

Another object of the invention is to provide a computing system of relatively simple construction composed entirely of solid state elements which is especially adapted for incorporation with a weighing scale to form an automatic weighing, computing and recording system, and a specific object of the invention is to provide such a system which is composed primarily of pulse counters and gates and wherein the appropriate sequential operations of the several counters and gates are programmed by an additional pulse counter.

A further object of the invention is to provide an automatic weighing, computing and recording system for weighing successive loads and computing and recording the value thereof which is composed of the minimum number of moving parts, and particularly to provide such a system wherein the readout and computing sections of the system are entirely free of moving parts, contacts and vacuum tubes.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an automatic weighing, computing and printing system for weighing successive loads and printing the value thereof wherein the only moving parts normally capable of generating noise are in the printer, and especially to provide such a system wherein the printer includes a scanner having cooperating relatively movable contacts and wherein the electric circuits are such that dirt on one or more contacts and/or bouncing of the scanner on a contact will have no effect on the accuracy of the system.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a weighing,

above wherein any change in the operating conditions which may require adjustment of the tare setting of the scale will actuate a signal and prevent further operation until appropriate adjustment is made but wherein release of the resulting blocked conditions can be obtained without movement of any mechanical part ifin fact no adjustment is required.

Still further objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. I is a perspective view showing a complete weighing, computing and printing system constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 s a diagrammatic view of a fragment ofthe system of FIG. 1'.

FIG. 3 illustrates a printed ticket of the type issued by the system of FIG. I;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of an optical chart constituting a part of the readout section of the system of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates some of the electrical symbols employed in the wiring diagram of FIGS. 6-15; and

FIGS. 6-I5 form in combination a logic diagram in accordance with the invention for the system of FIG. 1.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of the invention, FIG. 1 represents an automatic computing scale system in accordance with the invention which includes a weighing scale having a scale platter 21.

computing and recording system having some or all of the features outlined above which also incorporates provisions for detecting errors resulting from improper operation or from either electrical or mechanical failure and for preventing recording of any result affected by any such error.

An additional object of the invention is to provide an automatic weighing, computing and recording system as outlined The scale 20 is shown as including a window 22 for visually reading the weight, a tare adjustment knob 23, and a signal light 24 which is lighted whenever the tare setting may require adjustment.

The computer 25 is shown as mounted adjacent the scale 20, and it receives the weight information from the scale for combining with a selected price per unit of weight to compute the value of a weighed article. The computer 25 supplies the weight and value information to the register-printer 30, which is shown and referred to hereinafter as constructed according to U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,465 to Allen. The register-printer is provided with switches 3l-33 having manual control knobs 31', 32' and 33' which correspond respectively to cents, dimes and dollars per pound and are operatively connected with contacts 34 (FIG. 7) in the computer 25 through wipers 31", 32" and 33" as described hereinafter to determine the unit price of each article to be weighed. The register-printer 30 also incorporates a ticket ejector mechanism indicated at 35 and referred to hereinafter as constructed according to U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,466 to Allen et al. The printer 30 includes type wheels 36 (FIG. 13) and a commodity key 37, and it cooperates with the ejector 35 to print and issue a label showing the commodity weighed, the unit price, weight and computed value, a typical such label being shown as 40 in FIG. 3.

The computer of the invention does not depend upon any specific construction of scale, as will become apparent in the course of the following description, but it is described initially in conjunction with a scale which is generally constructed in accordance with U.S. Pat. No. 2,723,113 to Meeker et al. Pertinent parts of scale 20 are shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2 as including a lever 44, which constitutes a part of the weighing mechanism connected for movement with the platter 21, and an optical chart which is supported for movement by the lever 44 according to the balance position of the scale platter 21. Weight information, Le. a range of weights, is encoded on the chart 45 into closely spaced rows 46 of binary markings shown with exaggerated spacing in FIG. 2. The chart 45 forms a part of an optical projection system which is shown diagrammatically as including a fixed projection lamp 50 and a lens 51 to concentrate the light of the lamp filament on the chart 45. A lens 52 projects an enlarged image of a small vertical extent of the chart rows 46 which is readout to determine the balance position of the scale.

FIG. 2 shows photoelectric means for reading out the portion of the chart 45 corresponding to the weight on-the platter,

comprising a plurality of photocells 55. one for each of the rows 46. and a cooperating mask 56. Each photocell 55 is positioned immediately behind a slit in the mask 56, but for ease of illustration, the photocells 55 are shown in FIG. 2 as being spaced away from the mask. The photocells 55 undergo a decrease in resistance with light falling on the photocell window, to operate as current gates or valves, and a photocell which has been found useful for this purpose is designated type CL 604 manufactured by Clairex Corporation, l9 West 26th Street, New York 10, New York.

There are provided as many of the photocells 55 as there are rows of binary information on the chart 45, and in this embodiment, l4 photocells are employed. In order to conserve space within the'optical system, and to position the cells 55 as closely to the center of the optical axis as practicable, five photocells are arranged in each of two rows and four in the third row, with each of the photocells 55 being spaced both laterally and vertically from the adjacent cells and from the cells in the adjacent rows.

The mask 56 includes image-defining openings or slits 57, one for each of the photocells 55. The slits 57 may be approxi- ,mately .010 inch wide and are accurately positioned in relation to the projected image of the rows 46 on the chart 45. Accordingly, the relative weight-corresponding positions of the rows on the chart 45 are staggered in three groups in order to conform to the position of the slits 57 in the mask 56, and the slits 57 minimize the necessity for accurate positioning of the photocells with respect to the projected pattern.

The photocells 55 are designated individually by the letters A to N in the detailed description hereinafter. Their outputs are supplied to the circuits for reading out and converting the binary coded information into its decimal equivalents, as described hereinafter in connection with FIGS. 615. The binary equivalent of the weight to the closest one-hundredth of a pound is then supplied to the computer 25.

The computer of the invention will be described herein as utilizing a cyclic or reflected binary counting system wherein it is possible to count to any number by changing only a single item of information for each successive numerical change in the common decimal system. An example of this system is shown in Table I (page wherein there is a column of decimal numbers on the left and a column of cyclic decimal numbers on the right. Table I shows that as the count moves from 9 to 10 in the decimal system, the cyclic decimal system changes from 9 to 19 and counts downwardly to the cyclic decimal 10, which corresponds in turn to 19 in the decimal system. In moving from 19 to 20 in the decimal system, both digits must be changed, but in the corresponding portion of the cyclic system, the digits change from 10 to 20 and only one digit is changed, from a l to a 2 in the second column, Obviously, such a counting system can be extended indefinitely.

The rule for translating cyclic decimals into natural decimals can be stated as follows: Examining the cyclic decimal columns, the farthest left number is always a correct decimal number. If this number is even, the succeeding number to the right is also a correct decimal number. However, if the farthest left number is odd, then the 9s complement of the succeeding number must be used. The correct meaning of the third digit from the left is determined in the same manner, depending upon whether or not the translated true decimal number of the previous digit is odd or even. Thus the use of the natural number or its 95 complement is dependent upon whether the translated true number immediately to its left is odd or even.

The cyclic biquinary numbering system shown in Table II has been derived from the above system. Here each single decimal number is represented by a pair of digits, the digits 0 to 4 being used in the lower order of the pair and 0 or 1 in the higher order of the pair. The occurrence of 0 to l in the higher order of the pair directs whether the lower order represents a true number or its 9s complement.

The significance of the 0 or the 1 in the higher order of each pair of numbers is dependent upon whether the translated true number of the next higher order pair of digits is odd or even. If the next higher decimal number is even, the 0 directs the use of the significant number and the 1 directs the use of its 9's complement. The meaning of 0 or 1 is reversed if the higher order translated true number is odd. For example, in Table II, the cyclic biquinary number 00 13 dictates that the true decimal number is 6. which is the 9s complement of 3. In this example, the higher order decimal is an *even 0 so that the 1 in the second column directs the use of the 9s complement of 3. By contrast, the cyclic biquinary number 01 13 calls first for a true decimal 1 in the higher order. This being odd, the significance of the 1 in the lower order pair is reversed and the true decimal number is therefore 13. Table II shows additional examples of this system of counting.

Table III represents the cyclic biquinary code of Table II in binary form. In Table III, four columns or rows of binary indications are employed to indicate a single decimal column. The first three rows of each grouping of four rows represent whole decimal numbers of 0 through 4, and the fourth row indicates whether or not the 9s complement of the number represented by the first three rows is intended.

Preferably, some form of indication is employed to represent a true zero rather than the lack of indication as is commonly employed in binary systems. Therefore, 0001 represents the whole decimal number 0 in each of the groups of rows or columns.

Further examination of Table III shows that the reflective repetition of the binary indications in the first three rows occurs in five-digit increments. In other words, the count is from 0 to 4 in the first three columns, and then a 1 indication is added to the fourth or complements indicating column, while the binary indications of 5 through 9 represent a reflection or reversal of the indications of 0 through 4.

The preferred embodiment of this invention is described hereinafter in conjunction with a computing scale system having a maximum weighing capacity of 25.00 pounds and a maximum unit price of $9.99. The scale described herein accordingly uses three groups of four columns of binary markings which represent respectively hundredths of a pound, tenths of a pound, pounds and tens of pounds of weight on the scale platter. Only two binary rows are required to represent the tens of pounds since this will either be 0, l or 2. In Table III, fourteen columns of binary indications are employed to count to 25.00 (but are in fact capable of counting to 29.99) by changing only one binary indication for each successive change in the digital value of the weight.

The A through N indications in Table III above the several columns designate the above fourteen columns and also designate the corresponding photocells A through N, which are individually operated in accordance with the binary indication at any particular balance position within the weighing range of the scale. Examination of Table III indicates that par ticular groups of the photocells A through N will be operated for each decimal position. Thus photocells ABCD correspond to hundredths of a pound, EFGH correspond to tenths of a pound, IJKL correspond to pounds, and MN correspond to tens of pounds. These same columns, or rather the values therein, are designated in the following description of the computer as represented by the letters Z, Y, X, and W, respectively. The operation of the photocells representing a single column is illustrated in Table IV, namely the photocells A, B, C and the complements indicator photocell D for the successive digits 0 to 9 in the column Z, and each of the other groups of photocells are similarly coded for the digits in the respective columns which they represent.

TABLE I Decimal TABLE II Decimal TABLE III [Binary-Cyclic-Biquinary] NM LKJI HGFE DCBA i v TABLE IV 0=A 5: CD 1 AB 6 BOD 2: B 7 BD 3 BC 8 ABD 4: C 9 AD The above-described cyclic biquinary code is applied to binary form to the chart in fourteen vertically arranged columns A through N. A fragment of columns A through D on chart 45 is illustrated in FIG. 4, beginning at zero pounds and extending through thirty-three hundredths of a pound (0.33 pound) in one-hundredths of a pound increments, and also including a fragment of the high weight end of the chart. The dark binary indications of the code as shown in FIG. 4 are actually formed on the chart as clear or transparent areas wherein light is permitted to fall on the photocells, thus effecting a decrease in the resistance, signalling the coincidence of the associated slit 57 with the projected image of the chart at one of the 1 binary indications. The 0 binary bits comprise the areas on the chart 45 which are actually opaque.

The physical arrangement of the rows A through N of binary indications may be varied on the chart 45 within wide limits, as long as the associated photocell and slit 57 reading the particular column are correspondingly located to receive the projected image of the particular column which it is to scan. Thus the columns AN may be formed concentrically on a disc or wrapped about a drum. Preferably, they are arranged linearly side-by-side in a plane on a photographic plate. The binary indications of the column are staggered vertically in three groups to correspond to the physical placement or grouping of the corresponding photocells S5 and mask slits 57, but for convenience of explanation, they are shown in FIG. 4 as if all 14 photocells were arranged in alphabetical order in a single line.

The M AND N photocells are used as noted to read tens of pounds, and the binary code is: M=0, MN=1 and N=2. Since no M could also be equal to zero, the M photocell and its column on chart 45 are used to detect when the scale is in a balance position within a predetermined low range above zero, and the circuits are arranged to prevent automatic operation of the computer under these conditions. The physical provisions for effecting this result involve causing the M photocell to be dark (non conductive) when the scale is within such low range, for example, from 0 to .10 pound, as indicated in FIG. 4. Thus photocell M is lighted only above .10 pound, and a signal in either of the M and N columns will indicate that the weight on the scale is in excess of 10 pound.

It will also be noted in FIG. 4 that the areas for energizing the E and G photocells are extended below zero and beyond 25.00 pounds. The reason for this arrangement is to provide a signal when the balance position of the scale is below zero or above its calibrated capacity, as will be explained in detail hereinafter in connection with the logic diagram.

There are four signal lights mounted on the front of the printer 30 which may be energized during operation of the system. The error light 60 is energized automatically in the event of improper operation of the computer or printer, too great a weight on the platter for the capacity of the scale, or a balance position below zero. The light 61 is the Change Price light which is energized whenever the price selecting knobs 3l33 are inaccurately set or are not changed following change in the weighing of one commodity to another in essentially the same manner as described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,465 to Allen. The light 62 is a warning light signalling approaching exhaustion of the supply of paper on which the successive tickets are printed and corresponds to light 395 in U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,465, and the light 63 is an indicator which is lighted whenever the power is turned on. FIG. 13 shows the connection of the lights 60 and 61 in the circuit, and their operative relation with the mechanical switch 65 which corresponds to the switch 501 in U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,465.

complete cycle for test purposes or when the load on the platter is below .10 pound, and the switch 74 is the main power turn on switch related to the signal light 64.

Certain mechanical parts which are shown in the wiring diagram may be most readily identified at this point by reference to corresponding parts in issued patents. Thus theprinter motor 75 (FIG. 13) is the motor which drives the mechanical parts of the printer 30, including the printer wheels 36 indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 13, and it corresponds to the motor 150 in U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,465 to Allen. Among the parts driven by this motor 75 are the cam operated switch 76 and the scanner 77, which corresponds to the switch 535 and scanner 300 in U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,465. The contacts 78 correspond to the contacts 301 in the same patent and cooperate with the scanner 77. The printer 30 also includes the plurality of solenoids R401-R408 in FIGS. 10 and 15, which have switch contacts 401-408 shown in FIG. 12 and which correspond to the solenoids 285 in U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,465 for setting the corresponding type wheels 36 to the proper positions for the respective digits of weight and price and are therefore referred to as key solenoids.

The switch 80 in FIG. 12 is a mechanical switch which is normally opened momentarily and then closed as an incident to withdrawal of the ticket issued by the ticket ejector 35, and it corresponds to the switch 80 in U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,466 2,948,466 Allen et al. The motor 81 (FIG. 13) drives certain mechanical parts of the ticket ejector 35 and corresponds to the motor 50 in U.S. Pat. No. 2,948,466, and it will be apparent that a single motor could be provided for performing the functions of the two motors 75 and 81, but the two-motor arrangement has been found to be convenient.

The printer motor 75 is controlled by switch contacts 85- which initially are closed mechanically in response to energization of the solenoid R410 (FIG. 12) andthereafter are I held closed by a part of the printing mechanism until the print- R410 are mechanically controlled by the printer mechanism to open at the same time switches 85 and 86 are closed .and thereby to deenergize coil R410.

The logic diagram comprising FIGS. 6-15 shows one complete system in accordance with the invention which incorporates photocell readout circuits and utilizes the cyclic binary biquinary code as described above. For convenience of understanding, FIG. identifies many of the symbols used in the wiring diagram, as to which some further brief explanation here may be helpful. Thus in all cases, the arrowheads indicate the direction of flow of the signal, and where continuation of a line in the drawings is not feasible, suitable legends indicate the completed circuit, as in cases where an input to a gate or a flipflop is identified by the reference character of its source. Similarly, some cables (C1,C2, etc.) and lines (L-4l, L-42, etc.) are provided with reference characters for convenience of identification from sheet to sheet but which are not referred to in the text.

The several gates represented by triangles and semicircles may each comprise a combination of transistors and resistors to produce the designated function. Without regard to polarity of input or output, all triangles represent the logical NAND function, i.e. if and only if all input polarities are identical, the polarity of the output is the opposite of the polarity of the in- '5itsfn'gatwiegie' is er rip loy ed throughout the logic diagram, with the value I being assigned to negative polarity, so that positive polarity becomes 0. Thus each plain triangle will have a negative output when all of its inputs are positive, and it may therefore conveniently be designated as a plus NAND gate". Conversely, each triangle having a .bar along its base will have a positive output when all of its inputs are negative and may therefore be designated as a minus NAND gate". The .diode gates, which appear only in FIG. 15, are AND gates.

The semicircles in the logic diagram represent the logical NOR function, i.e. if a particular polarity appears as an input,

the output is of the opposite polarity. Thus the plain semicircle.

will have a positive output if any of its inputs is negative, and it may therefore be designated as a minus NOR gate". Similarly each barred semicircle will have a negative output if any of its inputs is positive, and it may therefore be designated as a plus NOR gate". Electrically, however, the barred triangles and barred semicircles may be identical, and similarly the unbarred triangles and unbarred semicircles may be electrically identical. Polarity inverters are also shown by semicircles each having a single input, and they are also designated by reference characters having the prefix V for convenience distinguishing from the reference characters for gates, which have the prefix G.

The flip-flops represented by double squares may comprise combinations of two transistors cross-connected to enable each to affect the other so that one will be on while the other is off and vice versa. They are stable in either of the two states and may be set or reset in either state by an appropriate signal, or they, may be caused to alternate from one state to the other in response to successive signals on a common input line. Thus the latter arrangement is typified by flipflop FF-S (FIG. 7), wherein each positive signal on the input line will reverse the polarity of outputs f5 and f5, which are the outputs of the upper and lower halves of the flip-flop as viewed in the logicdiagram.

The set and reset flip-flop arrangement is typified by flipflop FF-54 (FIG. 12) where the input line from flip-flop output f67 has a bar thereacross to indicate that a positive signal thereon will make output f54 positive and output f54' negative. Similarly the unbarred input line L-50 indicates that a negative signal thereon will make output f54 positive and output 54 negative. Conversely the unbarred input line to the bottom of flip-flop FF-54 indicates that a negative signal thereon will make output f54 positive and output f54 mega tive. It should also be understood thatthe term flip-flop is used herein as generic to bistable elements which will remain in either of two conditions or states and which can change state or be set to a predetermined state in response to predetermined input signals.

The P.T.O. (power turn on) symbol in conjunction with the barred input to flip-flop FF- -53 represents a network which is effective when the power is turned on to issue a positive signal of sufficient time duration to set the associated flip-flop in a predetermined state, namely in this case to make output 153 positive and output 153 negative. The same symbol shown as an input tothe bottom of flip-flop, as in the case of flip-flop FF-55 (FIG. 13) indicates the converse output result. An input having an x thereon, such as flip-flop F F-57 (FIG. 13), represents a negative voltage which holds the associated'flipflop in the desired state irrespective of other inputs thereto.

The wiring diagram does not show the power supply, which consists of the necessary components to produce a bias voltage of +1 2, a reference point of O voltage, a 12 voltage and a 24 voltage, allDC. The -24 voltage is used only to provide extra power for certain components, and references throughout the description to a plus or minus signal or to positive and negative normally mean 0 and I 2 volts respectively.

The block identified as Clock in the upper left hand comer of FIG. 6 represents a continuous pulse generator having three outputs identified as CP/l, CP/Z, and CP/2'. These outputs represent substantially square wave pulses of the order of 12 volts in height operating at a frequency of about 10 kilocycles. Outputs CP/l and CP/2 are identical in wave shape but are out of phase. Output CP/2 s identical wit output C P/2 but of opposite polarity.

Clock output CP/l serves as the synchronizing signal for the system and is fed into a series of flip-flops FF-l through FF-4, which are in series with each other but which are also provided with a feedback circuit from output f4 to flip-flops FF-2 and FF-3. The time trigger network TT-1 in this feed back circuit is a differentiating network as shown in FIG. 5 such that when output f4 changes from negative to positive,

the feedback circuit transmits a positive pulse of short duration to flip-flops FF2 and FF-3. Wherever one of these TT units is shown as having only one input, it is assumed that its other input is positive at all times.

Referring again to FIG. 6, each pulse from the clock causes flip-flop FF-l to switch from one state to the other. As flipflop F F-l returns to its original state, it sends a pulse to flipflop FF-Z, which responds to the pulses of flip-flop FF-l as the latter responds to the pulses of the clock. Flip-flop FF-2 in turn sends its pulses to flip-flop FF3, and the pulses of flipflop FF-3 are similarly sent to flip-flop FF-4. Thus each flipflop becomes a pulse divider, and in the absence of the feedback circuit, all four flip-flops in the group would be returned to their original condition after every 16 pulses. The feed back circuit, however, is so arranged that the four flip-flops as a group are returned to their original state after each series of 10 input pulses, and this network accordingly forms a decimal counting unit DCU-l which is also referred to hereinafter as the first pulse counter.

After every 10 pulses, flip-flop FF-4 delivers a signal on its output line f4 which leads to a second group of flip-flops FF-S through FF-8 connected with each other and the time trigger TT-2 in the same manner as the flip-flops of the first pulse counter. This second group of flip-flops therefore constitutes a second decimal counting unit DCU-2, which is also referred to hereinafter as the second pulse counter. The output f8 is supplied through time trigger TI3 and line L-48 to a third group of four flip-flopsFF-9 through FF-l2 which are connected in series without a feed back and thus constitute a 16- counter, which is referred to hereinafter as the program counter and functions to program the operations of the entire system.

FlGS. l and 15 show eight more groups of four flip-flops each connected like those of DCU-l and DCU-2 and each similarly provided with a feedback circuit and time trigger to form eight additional decimal counting units. These units constitute storage counters for the respective digits of weight and value, and they are correspondingly identified hereinafter and in the drawings with the letters W, X, Y and Z DCUW, et seq.) for the columns of weight as described above and with the letters S, T, U AND V for tens of dollars, dollars, dimes and cents respectively.

All of the several decimal counting units and the program counter operate according to the following information:

TABLEV DCU Program Counter I II III IV I II III IV o 1 2 a 4 a 6 1 s 9 10 a 11 12 13 14 15 In the above tables, columns I, II, III and 1V represent the four flip-flops which comprise any of the counters, and the symbols opposite the count indicate the outputs of the upper part of the double square symbols used for the flip-flops in FIGS. 6- l5. In other words, at 0, flip-flops FF-l to FF-4 have positive outputs f1 to f4 and negative outputs f1 to f4, and the polarity of each of these outputs is reversed at the count of 9 on all of the counters except the program counters, which requires 15 counts to reach this condition. Sampling of the state of the various flip-flops in a counting unit accordingly makes it possible to determine the actual state of the count at any time.

The storage counters DCUW through DCU-Z temporarily store the respective digits of weight in accordance with the determination by the photocell circuits which readout the weight information at the balance position of the scale and which appear in the portion of the wiring diagram shown on FIG. 11. The unit price digits which constitute the other factor multiplied by the computer are determined by the price knobs 31-33, which in turn operate switches 31-33 connected with the outputs of counter DCU-2 as shown in FIG. 7. The other details of operation of the system are described in connection with a complete operating cycle wherein it is assumed that the load on the scale was beef weighing 14.96 pounds and having a unit price of $1.26, resulting in a value of $18.85 as shown by the label 40 in FIG. 3.

The computation to produce the label of HG. 3 as noted above involves literally the following problem in arithmetic:

Example l The same problem may also be expressed in terms of the letter symbols already referred to, and which graphically present the operation of the system of the invention as follows:

Example I I The values M and N in the above product represent mills and tenths of mills and are used only temporarily, to generate carries to the penny column V, and they are stored temporarily for this purpose in DCU-S and DCU-T as will be described but are not shown in the final value total. The digit 5 in the M column is arbitrarily added to the mills total so that the final digit in the penny column will be accurate to the nearest halfcent.

A complete cycle of operation involves the use of 1600 pulses from the clock, which also corresponds to a complete cycle of the program counter. in the following description, the home position of the program counter has been selected to be its 1300 position, in which it rests while the computer is not in operation and also during a weighing operation of the scale. When the system is thus at rest, with the power turned on but the scale at zero, it should be noted that each of flip-flops FI -53, FF54, FF-SS, FF-56, FF-58 and FF-59 has been preset to the condition indicated by the P.T.O. symbol therewith, either as a result of having just turned the system on or as a result of a step in the preceding cycle as will be described hereinafter.

When the program counter is in its home position, it will be seen from Table V that flip-flop outputsf9,fl0,fll andfl2 are all negative. These outputs are connected to minus NAND gate G66 (FIG. 8), which with all its inputs negative supplies a positive signal to minus NOR gate G723. At this time, as will be pointed out below, the other input to gate G723 on line L-40 is also positive so that the output of gate G723 is negative. This results in a negative input to time trigger TT-3, which under these conditions functions similarly to a diode gate and gives a positive output only if both of its inputs are positive. Since this is not the case, time trigger TT-3 does not transmit the pulse from output f8 to flip-flop Fi 9, and the program counter remains in the 1300 position. It should also be noted that whenever the program counter is not in its home position, gate G66 has a negative output which causes gate G723 to allow the pulse from output f8 to be transmitted to flip-flop FF-9. This self-sustaining action continues until the programcounter reaches its home (1300) position, whereupon it will cease receiving pulses until line 1.40 again becomes'negative as described hereinafter to start a new cycle.

Whenever the program counter is in its home position, photocells 55A and 55C are periodically checked to determine whether the scale is at balance. These photocells act to detect motion of the scale in a manner similar to that described in detail in US. Pat. application Ser. No. 220,765 to Allen filed Aug. 31, 1962. The arrangement is such that whenever the scale is at balance, not more than one of photocells 55A and 55C will be energized, as is apparent from Table IV and the showing in FIG. 4, but whenever the scale is in motion, the effect is as if both were energized simultaneously.

Photocells 55A and 5 C have negative voltage continuously applied thereto through line L-27 while the program counter is stopped in its 1300 position. In this counter position, the flip-flop outputsfll and f12 are negative, and they are con nected through inverters V612 and V613 to plus NAND gate G610 (FIG. 8) so that the output of the latter is negative, and it is thisnegative voltage which energizes photocells 55A and 55C. Each of these photocells is connected to a sense amplifier SA-924 or SA-925, which may be described as regenerative or feedback amplifiers each of which is conditioned by the associated photocell and triggered by the clock through inverter V95 in series with plus NAND gate G96, which receives a clock pulse on output CP/2' and also signals from outputs f4 and f5. This particular combination causes clock pulses 8, 9, 28, 29, 48, 49, 68, 69, 88 and 89 to be delivered to the sense amplifiers during each cycle of counter DCU-2. Thus if either of photocells 55A and 55C should be conductive, the associated sense amplifier delivers pulses to the flip-flops FF-49 and FF-50, causing the latter to give out signals to the three gates directly above them in FIG. 11.

Flip-flops FF-49 and FF-50 are periodically reset in the home position of the program counter so that they can follow the changing conditions of photocells 55A and 55C. For this purpose, signals are delivered periodically by inverter V912 from plus NAND gate G920, which has inputs from gate G66, flip-flop output f8, and minus NAND gate G921. The inputs to gate G921 comprise clock pulses from output CP/2' and also signals from flip-flop outputs f3 and f5, so that gate G921 can deliver clock pulses 0-3, -23, 40-43, 60-63 and 80-83 during each cycle of counter DCU2. The net result of this gating causes gate G920 to deliver only pulses 80, 81, 82, and 83, and it is able to do this only when the program counter is in its home position.

When the scale is in balance at zero and the program counter is in its home position, photocell 55A will become conductive through line L-27, as shown by FIG. 4, and will cause sense amplifier SA924 to transmit a positive signal to flip-flop FF-49. This will in turn cause flip-flop output f49 to transmit a positive signal to plus NAND gate G913, but since the other input to gate G913 from output 150' is negative at this time, because photocell SSC is nonconductive, the output of gate G913 will be positive. The resulting signal is transmitted to plus NAND gate G1019, and the same signal reaches gate G1019 an instant later after passage through the time delay network TD1. The output of gate G1019 will remain positive, however, due to negative signals which it receives from other sources while the scale remains 'at zero, as now described.

Whenever the scaleis at balance with the program counter in its home position, the flip-flops associated with photocells 55M and 55N are also periodically reset and checked to determine whether the balance position of the scale is within a weight range which will produce automatic computing. Referring particularly to FIGS. 7 and 11, the energizing line L-12 for photocells 55M and 55N leads through inverter V728 from minus NAND gate G730 which has inputs from flip-flop outputs f6 and f7. Accordingly, whenever both of these inputs are negative in accordance with Table V, which will be when counter DCU-2 is in its 0 and 10 positions, photocells 55M and SSN are read out to determine their state, whether conductive or nonconductive.

In the zero position of the scale, neither of photocells 55M and 55N is conductive, as already described. As a result, their associated sense amplifiers SA-926 and SA-927 are nonconductive, and their associated flip-flop outputs f45 and f46 are positive, due to the periodic resetting signals to flip-flops FF-45 and FF-46 from gate G921. Outputs f45 and f46 both form inputs to plus NAND gate G1020 (FIG. 12), which also has an input from flip-flop output f47. Output f47 is positive at this time, since its associated photocells 55C, 55G and 55K are not energized, so that periodically all of the inputs to gate G1020 are positive and thus cause its output to become negative.

When gate G1020 is caused to emit a negative signal asjust described, this signal goes to minus NAND gate G1021, and when the other inputs to gate G1021 from line L-12 and outputfS are also both negative, which will be in the 10 position of counter DCU-Z, the resulting positive signal is transmitted to flip-flop FF-53 and causes its output j53 to be similarly positive. The positive signal from outputj53 is one of the inputs to minus NOR gate G1024, the other input to which is also positive, since it is shorted to ground through the normally closed manual start switch 72. The output of gate G1024 is therefore negative, and it forms an input to plus NAND gate G1019. The fourth input to gate G1019 is from flip-flop outputf56, which at this time is positive, for reasons described hereinafterv It follows, therefore, that it is the negative input to gate G1019 resulting from the nonconductivity of both of photocells 55M and SSN which holds the system from automatically starting a computing cycle while the scale is in balance at zero.

When a load is placed on the scale and causes it to start in motion, the state of photocells 55A and 55C immediately changes, and both are energized in alternating succession. Their associated flip-flops FF49 and FF-SO are therefore set to transmit simultaneous positive inputs to plus NAND gate G913, changing its output to negative and thereby preventing gate G1019 from emitting a negative signal irrespective of the condition of photocells 55M and 55N. In addition, since one or both of photocells 55M and 55N will now also be energized as soon as the scale moves above 10 pound, causing one or both of flip-flops FF-45 and FF-46 to transmit negative signals to gate G1020, the output of gate G1021 will be negative, and this will permit the signal to flip-flop FF-53 from gate G913 through time delay TD-l to reset it and cause its output f53 to become negative. The resulting negative input to gate Gl024 causes its output signal to gate G1019 to become positive, but this does not change the output of gate G1019 because of the negative inputs thereto from gate G913 so long as the scale is in motion.

When the scale comes to balance with a load of 7. pounds on the platter as previously assumed, the first result is that photocell 55A will cease conducting, while photocell 55C remains in a conductive state. The output of gate G913 will accordingly change and transmit a positive signal to gate G1019. The same positive signal will reach gate G1019 a predetermined time interval later through the time delay network TD-l, which establishes that the scale is truly at balance, rather than being temporarily still as while reversing its direction of motion. It should be noted that the same conditions will exist if the weight should be such that neither of photocells 55A and SSC is energized, which Table IV shows will occur if the last digit is 2 or 7. In such event, outputs f49 and fSO will both be negative, but since gate G913 is a plus NAND gate, its output will be positive.

At this time, photocells 55M AND 55N will both be energized, because of the l in the tens of pounds column, and since negative signals are therefore transmitted from flip-flop outputs f45 and f46 to plus NAND gate G1020, flip-flop FF-53 will remain in the condition to which it was set by the signal of 

1. In a system including a scale having a weighing mechanism and effective to weigh successive articles and to record the weight of each successive article, the combination comprising a pulse generator, program means operatively connected with said pulse generator, starting means actuated by arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position for initiating operation of said program means, read out means responsive to actuation of said program means for reading out the decimal digits of weight corresponding to the balance position of the weighing mechanism, separate storage counter for directly receiving and storing the pulses corresponding to each such digit of weight, means controlled by said program means and said readout means for effecting selective transmission of pulses from said generator to each of said weight storage counters in accordance with the individual decimal digits representing such balance position of the weighing mechanism, and means controlled by said program means for recording the stored weight digits from said storage counters.
 2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said pulse generator is continuously operating and said program means has a home position and a plurality of moVed positions defining a completed cycle thereof, and comprising starting means actuated by arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position for causing said program means to begin a cycle thereof.
 3. The combination as defined in claim 1 comprising pulse counting means connected to receive the output of said pulse generator and having a plurality of outputs, and gates controlled by said counting means outputs and by said read out means for effecting said selective transmission of pulses from said pulse generator to said weight storage counters.
 4. The combination as defined in claim 1 comprising photoelectric read out means for reading out the digits of weight corresponding to the balance position of the weighing mechanism, and gates controlled in part by said photoelectric read out means for effecting said selective transmission of pulses from said pulse generator to said weight storage counters.
 5. The combination as defined in claim 1 comprising means including a light source and photoelectric means activated by said light source for reading out the digits of weight corresponding to the balance position of the weighing mechanism, and means responsive to failure of said light source for giving a signal of the resulting error in weight determination.
 6. In a system including a weighing mechanism for weighing loads and recording data including the weight thereof, the combination comprising starting means actuated by arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position for initiating a cycle of the system, means including a light source and photoelectric means activated by said light source for reading out the digits of weight corresponding to the balance position of the weighing mechanism, and means responsive to failure of said light source for giving a signal of the resulting error in weight determination.
 7. In a system including a scale having a weighing mechanism and effective to weigh successive articles, to compute the value of each successive article at a predetermined unit price, and to record the weight and value of each successive article, the combination comprising a pulse generator, program means operatively connected with said pulse generator, manually settable means for selecting the unit price digits of an article to be weighed, starting means actuated by arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position for initiating operation of said program means, read out means responsive to actuation of said program means for reading out and storing information representing the decimal digits of weight corresponding to said balance position of said weighing mechanism, storage counters for the respective digits of the product of price and weight, control means responsive to said program means and to said weight read out and selecting means for effecting selective transmission of pulses from said generator to said partial products storage counters in accordance with the product of the respective digits of price and weight, and means controlled by said program means for recording the stored product digits from said product storage counters.
 8. The combination as defined in claim 7 comprising storage counters for the respective decimal digits of weight, means controlled by said program means and said weight read out means for effecting selective transmission of pulses from said generator to said each of weight storage counters in accordance with the individual decimal digits representing such balance position of said weighing mechanism, means controlled by said program means and by said weight storage counters and selecting means for effecting selective transmission of pulses from said generator to said product storage counters in accordance with the partial products of the respective digits of price and weight, and means controlled by said program means for recording the stored weight and product digits from all of said storage counters.
 9. The combination as defined in claim 7 comprising a first pulse counter connected tO receive the output of said generator and having a plurality of outputs, a second pulse counter connected to receive a pulse periodically from said first pulse counter and having a plurality of outputs, a program counter having a home position and having an input connection adapted to receive a pulse periodically from said second pulse counter, said program counter in said home position thereof being responsive to receipt of one of such pulses to commence a cycle thereof, said starting means being effective to cause transmission of pulses to said input in response to arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position, storage counters for the respective decimal digits of weight, said second pulse counter cooperating with said read out means and said first pulse counter to effect selective transmission of pulses from said generator to said weight storage counters in accordance with the individual decimal digits representing such balance position, and said program counter and said second pulse counter cooperating with said first pulse counter to effect selective transmission of pulses from said generator to said product storage counters in accordance with the product of the digits of price and weight.
 10. In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for scheduling the operation of the other said means, the computer means including selecting means for selecting places in the price to be multiplied in sequence by each place in the weight information and a series of counter stages controlled by the selecting means that by partial products accumulation produce the computed value.
 11. In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for scheduling the operation of the other said means, the computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the price and in the weight information to be multiplied as partial products, means for producing pulses corresponding in number to the partial products, and register means having a plurality of sections for receiving the pulses and so selected by the bistable means to receive the pulses that the computed value is accumulated.
 12. In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, the computer means including circuit means for selecting the places in the price beginning with the least significant place and multiplying them by every place in the weight information beginning with the least significant place and producing pulses equal in number to partial products obtained by said multiplying price places by weight places, the computer means further including register means and partial product gating means controlled by saId circuit means for so directing the partial product pulses to the register means that the computed value is accumulated, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for scheduling the operation of the other said means.
 13. In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, and means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, the computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the price and in the weight information to be multiplied to obtain partial products, circuit means for producing pulses equal in number to said partial products, register means, and partial product gating means controlled by said bistable means for so directing the pulses to the register means that the computed value is accumulated.
 14. A system according to claim 13 wherein there are provided means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value.
 15. In a system having a cycle of operation for weighing and computing the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing said value of each weighed load, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, and price entering means for entering said unit price into the computer means, the computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the weight information and in the price to be multiplied to form partial products, means for producing pulses corresponding to the partial products, register means controlled by the bistable means for accumulating the pulses as the computed value, and means for advancing the bistable means in steps in each of which one of said partial products is formed until computation has been accomplished.
 16. In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and indicating or printing a record of the value of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing, in accordance with unit price and weight, the value of each weighed load, weight reading means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, said computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the weight information and in the unit price to be multiplied to form partial products, means for producing pulses corresponding to the partial products, and register means controlled by said bistable means for accumulating the pulses as the computed value, readout means electrically connected to the computer means for indicating or printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for programming said cycle of operations of the system and including circuit means responsive to predetermined combinations of unit price and weight for preventing completion of a cycle wherein one of said combinations occurs.
 17. In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means, including two two-stage bistable circuits each having a reset state and a full count stAte, for scheduling the operation of the other said means as the bistable circuits are advanced from their reset states to their full count states, the programmer means further including circuit means for advancing the count in one of the bistable circuits and circuit means operative after said one of the bistable circuits is in its full count state for advancing the count in the other one of the bistable circuits.
 18. In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means, including two bistable circuits each having four output states, for scheduling the operation of the other said means. 